Tours

Poás is one of Costa Rica´s most active volcanoes, and one of its most frequently visited and prominent ones. It contains a green acid crater lake and during some of its frequent phreatic eruptions, water from the lake is ejected like a geyser. A modern visitors center (wheelchair accessible) and small museum explains and interprets the geothermal and ecological attractions in the park. A cafe serves coffee and hot drinks—as much to wrap your hands around to warm them as anything else—sandwiches, and snacks.

The volcano provides an excellent if extreme example of the effects of acid rain. Around the caldera, and for several miles downwind, the vegetation is stunted brown and black by the tainted moisture that precipitates from the omnipresent clouds near the peak.

Trails that lead through cloud forest stunted and twisted, not only by volcanic emissions but the rigors of the cold windy high altitude habitat. Lake Botos fills an extinct crater at the end of one trail, and is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, toucans, Costa Rica’s national bird the clay-colored robin, and the area’s most famous avian resident, the resplendent quetzal.

Manuel Antonio

This park has one of the most impressive landscapes of the world and has several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests that reach the beaches. Additionally, it is located in the tropical forest.

It has a large land and marine biodiversity with beautiful coral reefs.

Four beaches are contained within the limits of the park: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur,

Both Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth and Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth (perezosos) are a major feature, as are three of Costa Rica’s four monkey species — the Mantled Howler monkey, Central American Squirrel Monkey, and White-headed Capuchin monkey. Black Spiny-tailed Iguana, Green Iguana, Common Basilisk, White-nosed Coati and many snake and bat species are also common in the park. Included in the 184 bird species [2] are toucans, woodpeckers, potoos, motmots, tanagers, Turkey Vulture, parakeets and hawks. Dolphins can be observed there, as well as the occasional migrating whale. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking provide opportunities to experience the tropical wildlife that enriches Manuel Antonio.

Monteverde

Monteverde is a small town located in Puntarenas, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán. Roughly a four hour drive from the Central Valley, Monteverde is considered a major ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. The area is host to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and numerous other reserves, which draw considerable numbers of tourists and naturalists.

National Geographic has called the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve “the jewel in the crown of cloud forest reserves”.

Due to the acclaimed rain forests and cloud forests in the greater Monteverde area, Monteverde has become a major part of the Costa Rican tourist trail – despite difficult access. It was recently voted one of the “7 Wonders of Costa Rica” by the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación.

Arenal

Arenal Volcano, the youngest stratovolcano in Costa Rica, is one of the most active volcanoes in that country and in the world. It has been producing lava and pyroclastic flows almost continuously since 1968; this activity has been both a hazard to people living near the volcano and a draw for thousands of tourists over the years. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Arenal in northwestern Costa Rica, VolcanArenal was thought to be extinct prior to the eruptions of 1968, although it is now known that eruptions have occurred on and off for the last 7,000 years. It is always impressive so to see this tall colossus.

Carara & Crocodile Tour

Carara National Park is a national park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located near the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was established on April 27, 1978 as a biological reserve, but its growing popularity after 1990 forced the government to upgrade its category to national park in November 1998.

Carara National Park contains more primary rainforest than the relatively close Manuel Antonio National Park. As such, it is wetter than the more popular Manuel Antonio National Park, and has denser tree growth and more mosquitoes and other insects. This environment makes Carara a haven for many bird species making the park a popular birdwatching destination. In addition to Scarlet Macaws, birds found in Carara include Orange-chinned Parakeets and other parrots, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, motmots, jacamars, manakins, antbirds, and several species of trogon, including the Black-throated Trogon. Several species of water birds inhabit the park as well. These include the anhinga, several species of heron, egret and kingfishers.

Among the reptiles present in the park are the American Crocodile and several snake and lizard species. The Tarcoles River, which forms the northern boundary of the park, is inhabited by crocodiles throughout most of the year. Green and Black Poison Arrow Frogs are among the amphibians present. Mammals include White-tailed Deer, Red Brockets, collared peccaries, agouti, kinkajous, white-faced Capuchin Monkeys, Mantled Howler Monkeys, Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloths and Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths. However, mammals can be difficult to see due to the dense tree cover.

Stay Local

Atenas: Atenas is the name of the fifth canton in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is a fairly compact canton, mountainous for the most part. The Río Grande (Great River) forms the border on the canton’s north and east sides. As the river moves south, it is joined by two other large rivers, the Río Poás and the Río Virilla, before turning west again and forming the canton’s southern border under a new name, the Río Grande de Tárcoles. The western border of the canton is established by a series of quebradas (canyons) that cut through the Coastal Mountain Range.

San Jose: San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1200 m (3,700 ft) elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of this city is probably half of the whole country. It contains the primary airport, the University of Costa Rica, the US’ and other embassies and many museums, cultural venues, hotels, markets, etc. Itisthehub of the country.